“I–I don’t know.” Jesse floundered, his heart clenching at the sight of his daughter’s distress.
“I thought you loved her.” Abby’s words were quiet, turning introspective.
“I did–Ido,Abby. I love her so much.”
“No. You don’t!” Abby cried, her head shaking back and forth as she backed up to the hall, before disappearingaround the corner. He could hear the frantic pace of her footsteps before she slammed into her bedroom, and the house fell silent once more.
Leaving Jesse with nothing to do but consider her words.
To consider the realization that he didn’twanther to believe him—to believe that love and betrayal could go hand in hand. That such a thing was worth settling for.
And to consider the paralyzing fact that he’d unintentionally turned his own daughter into an unwitting accomplice in his affair.
28
THE BEES
Finally put his ass on notice. Well done!
That was risky. How does she think he’s going to fund paying off that card?
Bring on phase two of the plan—I want this man destroyed.
“Did you hear that?” Eliana asked, glancing toward the window.
Clem shook her head, shoveling another handful of popcorn into her mouth as her eyes stayed glued to the television across the room, featuring her newest sitcom obsession. “Wha’id’t soun ike?” She garbled around the kernels.
“A thump.”
Clem swallowed. “Maybe it’s the criminals fromthe statistics?”
“Will you stop quoting that show, you weirdo. It just sounded like a thump. Should you go check?”
“Me?” Clem responded, her tone disgruntled. “Why don’tyougo check?”
“Because you’re scarier.”
“Aw, I’m flattered,” Clem grinned, pleased, then she waved a hand at the door. “But send Jesse to die instead.”
Eliana frowned. “That would require acknowledging he’s alive.”
Clem shrugged, losing interest, her eyes returning to the flat screen. “Milo?”
“Milo’s flight back got delayed because of the fog. He won’t be back until tomorrow.”
“Well, shit. It was probably just a dog, I wouldn’t stress.”
The guest bedroom was the only one on this side of the house, facing Milo’s house, and nobody was staying there tonight. Eliana sighed, settling back onto the pillows beside her friend. It hadn’t beenthatloud of a thump—especially if Clem hadn’t even heard it. She was probably overreacting.
Her phone chimed on the bedside table, and she clicked it open, then sat straight back up in the bed as her eyes scanned the text, a hand flying to her mouth.
“What?” Clem asked, following her movement.
Eliana twisted the phone, sharing Milo’s message, sent only a moment before.
Milo
Check this out
